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Class Level and Curriculum Links
Junior Certificate Science
Leaving Certificate Biology:
1.5.5 Organism Adaptations
Sphagnum moss the bog builder
investigation
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Sphagnum moss is one of the most important species on the bog. It is sometimes called the bog building plant because its remains form layers of moss peat which can be several metres thick. In optimum conditions Sphagnum moss can form a living layer over the entire surface of the bog comprising millions of individual plantlets. This layer is surprisingly thin and overlies the peat that makes up the soil of the bog. Walking across a Sphagnum rich bog is like walking on water because each moss plant can hold up to 20 times its own weight in water ensuring that the bog is always wet. This water is stored in the cellular structure of the plant and between neighbouring plantlets which are tightly packed together. In this investigation we look at Sphagnum moss plants to discover some interesting facts about them. 1. Make a sketch of a bog moss plant cut from the bog to include the growing head, stem, hanging branches clasping the stem and spreading branches. Label live and dead parts of the plant. Indicate the colour of each part. What are the functions of the spreading and hanging branches? 2. Using your hands split open a layer of Sphagnum moss on the bog surface digging down until you reach peat. Measure the depth of the living layer of moss on the bog surface. Depth of the living moss layer ___________ cm 3. How does bog moss grow? _________________ ____________________________________________ 4. What happens to the dead parts of the bog moss plant with time? ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 5. Lay down a 10x10cm quadrat (made from cardboard or strong
clear plastic) on the surface of a Sphagnum moss hummock. Count
how many Number of Sphagnum moss plants in 100cm2 area of bogland: _______________________ 6. In the laboratory examine the structure of a Sphagnum moss leaf under the microscope. Label the water storing (hyaline) cells and the food making (photosynthetic) cells on the drawing provided. |
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